The hygge mood is all about feeling cozy, comfortable, and content. It’s that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by things that make you happy, like a warm blanket, a hot drink, and your favorite book or movie. Fun Fact: Did you know that Denmark is one of the world’s largest consumers of candles per capita, with many residents burning candles every day. Meik Wiking, an acclaimed author and happiness researcher, calls candles “instant hygge.” Bonus: Make your own beeswax candles! Another reason hygge is important is that it helps us to appreciate the present moment. So often we’re focused on what’s coming up next, or what we need to do, or what we’re worried about. Hygge encourages us to just be in the moment, to savor the little things, and to find contentment in the present. Hygge is definitely still a thing! In fact, it’s more popular than ever these days. People all over the world are embracing the hygge lifestyle, and it’s not hard to see why. In a world that’s often fast-paced, stressful, and disconnected, hygge offers a way to slow down, find comfort, and connect with the things that really matter.

Try to find natural materials to incorporate into your decor, wood, stones, wool, etc. Stay away from jarring colors or busy designs that are distracting. Plants Another reason hygge is so popular is that it’s a way to find happiness in the present moment. We’re all so focused on what’s coming up next, or what we need to do, or what we’re worried about. Hygge encourages us to just be in the moment, to savor the little things, and to find contentment in the present. We’ve got more than a few winter hygge ideas, activities, and tips that will show you how to enjoy winter even if you normally hate it. What is a Hygge Winter?Hygge is about a relaxed slowness and being genuinely conscious, not just the ability to be present; you’ll experience the feelings of hygge when you recognize and enjoy the present. This is an area where you’ve probably experienced hygge in your life already. Listening to music you enjoy, especially nostalgic tunes from your childhood and adolescence can create feelings of hygge. But I think there’s more to it than that. Hygge also encourages us to slow down, be present, and appreciate the simple things in life. Just as “chic” is the thing that everyone knows about the French, the word hygge must now be affixed, almost by law, to any media story about Denmark or, indeed, anything remotely Scandinavian, whether the subject is clothes, furniture, cookery, travel, or working hours. The headlines are mostly absurd. Get Hygge With It! Hungry For Hygge! Ten Reasons to Hygge … It Will Make You Happier, Fitter and Slimmer! Give Your Home a Hygge! There is even a New Statesman article titled The Hygge of Oasis: Why I Find This Band Strangely Comforting.

Think about activities you can do together such as having board games to hand or a shelf with movies on for you all to enjoy together. A family relaxing together around a candlelit table epitomises hygge. Photograph: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images Warm natural lighting is one of the most essential aspects of hygge. Use warm twinkle lights and change out harsh bulbs for warmer shades. So if you’re ever feeling stressed or overwhelmed, just remember that there’s always a little hygge to be found! Best hygge quotesFirst of all, don’t overdo it. You want to make sure to keep things simple and not go overboard with decorations or furniture. You aren’t going to escape winter any time soon unless you plan to move to a tropical climate, so try to enjoy winter hygge instead.

Bring nature into your home to add to textural decor and furnishings. Live plants create a feeling of wellness and calm and offer a sense of accomplishment when they thrive. And, of course, they take in carbon dioxide and provide your home with oxygen throughout the day. Seating Another essential component of creating a hygge winter is to feel happy and satisfied with the simple things in life and focus on contentment. Don’t feel compelled to rush out and buy things just to adopt a hygge lifestyle. Because this whole concept is about a feeling, it is why many Danish people claim there isn’t a literal translation for ‘hygge.” You Can Enjoy a Hygge WinterThere is also hyggelig, which is more of a verb and means “to take pleasure in the simple things.” Hyggelig is pronounced “hoo-galee.”

So far Wiking’s book has been doing best – a brisk trade at 46,000 copies in the UK, according to Nielsen Book Research, and it is being published in 23 other countries. That means that the British, oddly, have become the agents of the dissemination of Danish hygge, as if the very idea had been invented in London – which, in a sense, it was. Cozy up the couch and reading area with blankets and pillows that enhance the ambiance, not clutter up the place. Arrange seating where family and friends can relax and chat while enjoying a warm drink. Contentment Essentially creating a home away from home for your friends and family, as a huge part of hygge is bringing people together.

Hygge home essentials

Valentine’s aim was paradoxical: to publish books that would be bought by people who “aren’t book-buyers”. Hygge seemed like a perfect distillation of popular lifestyle obsessions – beginning with mindfulness, “which has moved beyond being a publishing phenomenon and into being a way of life, and has fed into so many trends, like healthy-eating books and adult colouring books.” She added: “It seemed to tie into an interest in digital detox, too.” So many recent fashions, she said, had been about self-discipline and self-deprivation – tidying up, “clean” eating. Hygge “was an antidote to all that”. Say goodbye to that ripped and threadbare old band t-shirt. Say hello to that lovely blue cashmere sweater that’s been hanging in the closet that you are “always going to” but never wear? Oh, the luxury and coziness, not to mention finally a valid reason to keep it! Lighting So if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just in need of some relaxation, try getting into the hygge mood. Find some cozy blankets, light some candles, and settle in with a good book or your favorite movie. You might be surprised at how much better you feel! If you can’t do regular candles, there are a lot of great realistic-looking battery-operated candle options now too! Music The Danes do it so well by using a mixture of materials to add interest to a relatively minimalist scheme.